The PPV, Takeover: Brooklyn III, begins with a live performance from Code Orange with pictures of various NXT wrestlers.
JOHNNY GARGANO vs. ANDRADE “CIEN” ALMAS (w/Selena Vega)
Off the bat, they do some mat work. Gargano hits a jacknife which barely gets a one count. A crucifix gets Gargano another one-count and then he moves to a front face lock. As Almas delivers some chops, Mauro Ranallo gives his best wishes to Ric Flair. An armbar through the ropes by Almas. Both wrestlers trade with each other their usual offensive maneuvers. A dive to the outside sends Almas into the barricade. It is followed up by a slingshot DDT, which nearly wins it for Gargano. Gargano ties a spear through the ropes for a second time, but Almas catches him and hits a tornado DDT that gets a two. Both Vega and Almas cannot believe it wasn’t three. Almas puts Gargano up top and then lands a big chop. Gargano blocks the superplex and then fights Almas off. Gargano goes for a sunset flip powebomb, but Almas flips out of it and lands on his feet. He sets up running double knees. Gargano pops out of the corner, but he gets hip-tossed into the corner. Gargano locks in a crossface, though Almas reaches for the ropes. Gargano rolls him to the middle, but Almas picks him up for a one-armed buckle bomb and delivers a double knees for a super close nearfall. Almas says it’s over and goes to work on Gargano’s arm. Gargano is out, but he suddenly springs to life with a superkick. He hits another kick and then running snake eyes. Vega throws a shirt at Gargano to distract him, setting up the hammerlock DDT for the win. Winner: Andrade Almas in 13:06.
Analysis: Awesome, awesome opener. Showing stealing type of performances, with an abundant supply of wall-to-wall action and smart wrestling. Despite how fast-paced this match became, they did not sacrifice logical psychology and storytelling for it. Each piece of this match fit into the context of the story, and the psychology was tight throughout. For every twist, there was a turn. The near-falls were also very believable and well timed, and the match made you think both wrestlers had an equal chance of winning the match. I additionally found the finish as a smart way to distract Gargano, who’s clearly mesmerized by being reminded of his former DIY partner turning on him, and it gave him an “out” for losing the match without making him look stupid (unlike how so many faces look stupid in WWE from these types of finishes). **** 1/4
A graphic and video package is shown for the tag title match…
The ring announcer sad that Takeover was trending #1 worldwide on Twitter. He then introduced Corey Graves, who received a strong face reaction and joined the commentary team. Sanity was out first, followed by the Authors of Pain, and they charged the ring and started brawling before the bell could sound.
The brawl went out to ringside and Eric Young took a table out from under the ring. The referee finally managed to get things back into the ring and the match was underway.
Sanity (Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe w/ Nikki Cross and Eric Young) vs. The Authors of Pain (Akem and Rezar w/ Paul Ellering) for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Both Akam and Rezar just beat Wolfe and don’t show mercy doing so. Wolfe dodges a charge and then Akam eats ringpost. Young jumps on the apron and demands a tag. So Freebird Rule? The ref allows Young, not Dain, to take the tag. Young is able to take Akam into the ring while Wolfe beats on Rezar outside the ring. Young makes Akam run himself into the barricade. Akam throws Young back into the outside area and then into the ring, but Young quickly recovers. A double team back body drop by AOP and then Rezar catches Young and then slams him to the mat for two. Young is trying to get out of the corner, but he takes a vicious stomp from the second rope. Rezar is half-choking Young in the middle of the match and then Young tries sliding under Rezar from the apron, but Rezar catches him, holds him up in the air, and then slams him to the mat. Wolfe distracts them, and Rezar whiffs an elbow drop, but dodges a corner charge to gain a moment of air. Wolfe tags in, and he goes wild on Rezar. Wolfe suplexes Akam then Rezar. Wolfe goes to the top, leaping clothesline, and Akam breaks up the cover and then dumps Young out of the ring. He tags in Akam. A suplex into a powerbomb, though Wolfe manages to kick out. Rezar goes to the second rope powerbomb; Akam protects him, though, and Wolfe hits a Frankensteiner instead. He tags in Young, who hits a leaping neckbreaker to Rezar. Young to the top, though Rezar shakes the ropes to crotch him. Rezar goes for a superplex, but Young block. Akam looks for a Tower of Doom and Cross holds Rezars’ leg. Rezar takes the powerbomb, but Young lands the Macho Man elbow for a close nearfall. Young leaps through the ropes, then Wolfe nails a plancha over the top. Ellering comes into the ring, but the ref has to separate them. The ref gets distracted, though, by Ellering. So, Cross leaps on Akam, but Akam catches her. Dain builds a head of steam and hits a huge spear into Akam, who goes through the table. Young rolls Rezar into the ring, makes a tag to Wolfe. Wolfe holds Rezar up and Young hits a neckbreaker off the top for the win. Winners: Sanity in 11:57.
Analysis: Another great match with bell-to-bell action and twists and turns. However, the dynamics of this match were odd. Sanity was booked to be the babyfaces in spite of using the numbers game to defeat AOP. It is the major reason I never been a huge fan of heel vs. heel matches. Someone has to turn into the de facto babyface, and more often than not, it makes things head scratching. Good thing, though, that the action was so fast-paced, and the majority of the maneuvers were hard-hitting and brutal-looking yet crisp and clean. The debut of ReDragon was a nice surprise, but it is dubious if this was the right way to end AOP’s reign of dominance. To me, it came across as anti-climactic, and it could have been a bigger movement. Still, the match was very good. *** ¾
ALEISTER BLACK vs. HIDEO ITAMI
They are kicking the hell out of each other. Big boot from Itami, but Black just eats it and then they go head-to-head. Itami goes to the outside, but Black jumps off the ropes and sits. He catches a kick while sitting down and then takes Itami down. Itami is startled, but his arm gets captured and Black beats him down. Black is hung up on the ropes. Itami hits a knee drop off the top to the back of the head. Black is bleeding from the nose. Itami puts in a tight side chinlock, and the ref now has gloves on. Snapmare and then knee drops to the head. Itami does the knee drop with the dirt scuff to the face and then sits down in Black’s post to taught at Black. Black gets to his feet with fire, though Itami cuts him off and hits a DDT for two. Itami puts in chinlock, though Black gets to his feet. He ducks a charge and tries to land kicks. Itami stops him, but Black unloads, leg sweet and hits a running knee to the head. Brutal lionsault gets a nearfall. Black uses his foot to lift Itami, though an elbow stops Black Mass before it happens. Itami, with more feet out of the corner, tornado DDT into the ropes, top rope clothesline almost ends it. Fisherman suplex gets Itami a two-and-a-half. Black shows life, but Itami chops him in the neck. Black stumbles into the corner, but jumps out with a cover for two. He hits a roundhouse, and Itami looks like he is out. Black goes to the top, but Itami gets to the corner and wants a superplex. Black elbows him off, but Itami recovers and hits a kick. Itami sets up the superplex. It is blocked, though he hits avalanche Falcon Arrow off the top. Black is out, Itami rolls over for an insanely close near-fall. They get up to their feet and trade blows. A hesitation drop kick to the back of Black’s head. Itami sets up GTS, but Black elbows out. Itami hits him with a knee and then paintbrushes him, but Black hits Black Mass out of nowhere for three. Winner: Aleister Black in 12:24.
Analysis: No build, no problem. In spite of there being no build up, the wrestlers got the crowd into the match by sheer force and willpower. A crowd does not care if there’s a story leading to a match. They will get into a match simply if they enjoy the action, and the wrestlers play their role correctly. Both performers did just that, putting together an intense and ceaseless striking fest. *** 1/2
EMBER MOON vs. NXT Women’s Champion ASUKA For The NXT Women’s Championship Match
Moon hits a drop kick and then goes crazy on Asuka. Asuka gets to her feet and goes for a kick, but Moon catches it and suplexes her. Asuka goes to the outside. She dodges a baseball slide and then hits a kick on the outside. Moon goes to the second rope and hits a cannonball to Asuka on the outside. Asuka is crawling away outside, though she sends Moon’s face into the ring steps and then kicks her. Moon attempts to fight back, but Asuka kicks her hard. A suplex onto the ramp. Moon gets rolled into the ring and gets kicked more. Asuka begins to work over Moon’s arm. Nasty looking armbar, as it looks like Moon’s arm is being ripped off. Moon tries to get out and finally escapes. Asuka goes back to the arm and then an STO and will not let up on the arm.
Moon unleashes a number of kicks and then an enziguri for two. German suplex puts Moon’s head right into the turnbuckle. Asuka is attempting for the Asuka Lock. She transitions into using the Asuka Lock, though. Moon escapes and tries an Asuka Lock of her own. Asuka escapes, puts in the Asuka Lock, and then she leaps on the back. Moon is fading. Moon gets up and falls backwards. Asuka attempts it again on the mat, but Moon flips over into a cover. Asuka escapes and then Moon hits a wild elbow. Asuka is reeling; they duck clotheslines, but a huge hip attack sends Moon flying for a nearfall. Hip attack in the corner. Moon dodges some of it. She gets a knee up in the corner and sets up a tornado suplex and gets two. Moon kicks Asuka to the mat. Asuka recovers and then unloads. Giant kick to Moon’s face and then she holds Moon’s arm and kicks the face over and over. Side slam from Moon for a nearfall.
Moon is unsure where to go next, thus she goes to the top. Asuka meets her there, though. She goes for a superplex, but Moon slips under for a powerbomb. Asuka holds on and falls into a Tree of Woe. She gets stomped and Asuka barely kicks out. Moon to the top and hits the Eclipse, but Asuka kicks out. Moon is nearly in tears, unable to believe that Asuka kicked out. Moon rolls to the apron and then goes up top again. Asuka hides behind the ref. Moon goes for Eclipse, but Asuka catches it. She quickly covers her and grabs the shorts, but the ref sees it and stops the count. Asuka argues with the ref, though Moon nails a superkick for a very close cover. Asuka plays possum and surprises Moon with a cross armbreaker. Moon transitions to a cover for a nearfall. Asuka kicks out and transitions to the Asuka lock. Moon is attempting to roll into a cover, but she cannot. Moon taps. Winner: Asuka in 14:47.
Analysis: This was a well paced and spaced out WWE “main event” styled match, with very effective and dramatic selling. Both wrestlers also did a great job maximizing the importance of high-impact moves. There were tons of believable near-falls too, and both wrestlers seemed like were on their way of winning the match. The final minutes were purely crazy. Asuka is crazy consistent, always finding a way to produce a good match with anyone they have work with her. She is making her case of being the best NXT women’s champion ever. Moon, meanwhile, was right at home in the ring with the champion. Awesome stuff. **** ¼
DREW MCINTYRE vs. NXT Champion Booby Roode For The NXT Championship Match
They square up. Roode looks at McIntyre head to toe. They back up, lockup, and McIntyre throws Roode into the corner. He then throws Roode out and then invites him back to the ring. Roode trepidation going back in. He dodges a clothesline, nails a chop, and then ducks another attack, nails a chop. Roode rolls outside for a break after taking more brutal offense. Roode gets backed into the corner and then slips away and goes on attack. He does it again. Roode wants a Glorious DDT, though McIntyre sneaks out to the corner. Roode does the Glorious pose and says “that close” and declares NXT to be his. Chops back McIntyre right into the corner. McIntyre reverses a whip, though, and gives a codebreaker to Roode’s arm. Big boot and then McIntyre lifts Roode up and tosses him. McIntyre then clotheslines Roode out of the ring.
Roode attempts jumping off the apron onto McIntyre, but he gets caught. Tilt-a-whirl slam puts Roode into the apron back first. Roode escapes a suplex on the apron and has a neckbreaker as McIntyre tries to reenter the ring. Roode hits a running blockbuster off the apron to the outside and brutal elbow to McIntyre’s throat. Roode stomps on him in the ring. Clothesline in the corner and neckbreaker combination gets Roode a two count.
A body blows from the mat provides McIntyre momentum until a strong whip launches him into the corner. Roode to the second rope and a missile dropkick gets two. Chinlock slows McIntyre and then Roode jumps onto McIntyre with a sleeper hold. McIntyre regains his feet and then puts Roode into the ringpost. Roode hits a boot up to get McIntyre away, charges, but then gets a belly-to-belly throw. McIntyre looks like he is in some pain. Roode is thrown into the turnbuckle and then McIntyre starts to shift momentum. He goes to the top turnbuckle; hits a clothesline and then he kips up. Roode, though, elbows his way out of a potential suplex. Atomic drop shows a bit of light and then a knee, though McIntyre catches him on the ropes, hits a fireman’s carry, and then Celtic Cross for two.
Roode puts McIntyre on the ropes and then goes to the top again. McIntyre greets him there. Roode fights him off. McIntyre runs up again, but he gets crotched. Roode knocks him into a Tree of Woe. Roode does his Glorious pose, but McIntyre sits up and throws Roode off. McIntyre wants the Claymore, though Roode is out. The ref checks on him. He is deadweight, but then he surprises McIntyre with a jackknife for two. McIntyre goes for the Future Shock DDT, but Roode escape and hits a backstabber for a nearfall. Roode nails a big series of chops in the corner and then a clothesline. However, McIntyre escapes a neckbreaker and nails backslide for two, followed by the Future Shock DDT for a nearfall.
McIntyre goes with a fireman’s carry and goes to the second rope, but Roode slips down, hits a powerbomb and McIntyre barely kicks out. Both men are now down, but they fight from their knees to get to their feet. Roode goes for a kick, but McIntyre catches it. Roode hits him with an enziguri. Claymore from nowhere. Roode attempts rolling outside, though McIntyre stops him. Roode gets up a foot on the ropes at the last minute, though, and then rolls outside. The ref begins counting. McIntyre nails the ropes and does a flip-dive to Roode on the outside. Roode gets in at six. McIntyre calls for the Claymore, but Roode stuns him with a spinebuster. Glorious DDT is blocked. McIntyre slides down and then rolls Roode up for two. McIntyre goes for a suplex,but Roode reverses into the Glorious DDT only for McIntyre to kick out at the last second. Roode barely gets to his feet, needing the ropes to get up. Roode is foaming at the mouth. He wants another Glorious DDT and hits it Roode goes for number three, but a headbutt cuts it off. Drew hits Claymore and picks up the victory. After the match, ReDragon hit the ring to attack McIntyre. Suddenly, the debuting Adam Cole hits the ring and joins ReDragon in the beat down. The show signs off with ReDragon celebrating together. Winner: Drew McIntyre in 22:23
Analysis: Good little chess match between these two, with Roode being defensive and cautious of Drew’s core strength and size, trying to take advantage of every advantage he could find. This was also physical and penetrating, with them putting more snap and an extra oomph on their moves. However, it was not as fast-paced or twist and turning as the previous matches. It was a good match, though, just not great. Also: awesome surprise debut from Adam Cole and cool moment of him joining up with ReDragon, setting up some potential interesting stories down the line. *** ¼
Overall Thoughts: The NXT Takeover formula just works to nigh on perfection. Each match is treated important. Each match gets enough time to shine. The show is virtually flawlessly structured, booked, and paced. Their shows feel neither too long nor too short. Their booking is carefully planned and considered sensible; and while they make some dubious decisions, their booking decisions never make their fans shake their head or leave them befuddled.
Most importantly, though, the wrestling is just superior. They allow their wrestlers to shine and do not allow their booking to overtake or hinder a match. Their wrestlers also seem more motivated and put more of an honest effort into their matches than the main roster does. The matches are also better thought-out and laid out. While formulaic, to a degree, NXT matches still have something unique about it, a story, and sprinkled out clever psychology whereas WWE matches are mostly unvaried, homogenized, and cookie-cutter.
With the right resources – talented roster, authentic production, proficient announce team, etc. – NXT shows how it is not that challenging to put on great shows. This stacked head to toe show attests just that.
One of the biggest thumbs up for this show.
